Introduction

Pokémon Mystical Grief is a project being currently worked on RPG Maker XP with Pokémon Essentials. It's based on an interesting character-developing story and it's expected to show the darker and creepier side of the world of Pokémon, bringing some old themes to life. The main inspiration for the project is Pokémon GSC, the Zero Escape series and some common Fantasy RPG and Puzzle Games concepts. Fakémon will be included, Old characters will be present in the storyline, and this one will be divided by Chapters. There's also time travel involved, which is one of the major features: you'll have to choose different choices more than once to get the outcomes you want, but despite that, the main story it's a little lineal so the player don't get lost. The possibility of changing choices it's not the only thing the time travel offers, you'll have to go to the middle age and discover many secrets that will help you solve the riddles and puzzles you'll find in the future.

While many Pokémon games are aimed at a child audience, Pokémon Mystical Grief is principally aimed at old followers of the series, and because of that the story is more mature and emotional. Some old mysteries will be continued, including Mew's appeareance in Guyana, Mewtwo's creation, Dr.Fuji and his daughter, Molly Hale's incident in Greendale as well as other events showed in the series.

Historical Context

As the slogan says, it takes place 20 years after Mt.Coronet's events in Sinnoh, and technology has improved. There are no flying cars all over the cities, as they would be too expensive for people to have, but there are a lot of changes in electronic devices and some tweaks in the storage and healing systems. Time travel offers the temptative option to get back to Elarosa's middle age, finding the player in the small fortress Elarosa was at the time. Being in the past lets the player witness the legend of the guardian take place, but this time something has changed... something bad... something that will put Elarosa's life and future to the limit, and only the legitimate king, inheritor of the throne, owner of courage and wisdom, can bring peace again to this land...

Prologue

Our hero (that means you) this time is none other than Ray/Lina, Volkner's son and daughter. You just beated the Battle Zone in the Fight Area and are expecting to get back to Sunyshore City. While healing your pokémon to get ready one of the sailors shows up at the Pokémon Center and tells you to hurry up because the cruise liner is about to leave, so you rush to the ship and make it on time, thinking on how your Dad will react when you say you won the Battle Tower challenge.

A day passes, you're aching for sunlight and decide to go out for a while and that's when you see it.
A giant snake-shaped Pokémon appears just in front of the ship making a big storm and enormous waves. The ship loses control and it's forced to go other way to be safe. The captain eventually announces: "A storm made by a pokémon delayed our arrival time at Sunyshore City, please stay calm, we managed to get away but we'll have to stop by Sorel City's port as it's the nearest one in order to check any possible damage, we are sorry for the inconvenience, as our policy says we'll give the current passengers the ride back to Sunyshore City for free once we're finished."
You get back to your room and decide to call your dad to tell him you'll be on the Elarosa Region, and proceed to explain the problem: "There's no need to worry, dad", but him as a worried father says he'll take the next plane to Sorel City.

The ship finally arrives at Sorel City's port, and for your surprise, Volkner was already there waiting for you. He tells you that he knows a friend who lives there and both can stay at her place for a while. This person is Unova's Elite Four Shauntal, who met your father at Unova's Pokémon League when he tried to beat it. "Your father have always been a person driven to fierce battles" she said. "You know, Elarosa is famous for being a touristical place, also a lot of trainers from all around the world come here to prove their skills in the Elarosa's Pokémon League Challenge, maybe you could try". You spend the night and talk about your adventures during the whole dinner.

Plot

One day, you dad cames up with the idea of staying in Elarosa and letting you try to beat the Champion.
He thinks it's a great idea and encourages you to do it, but says it's no fair if you go with your current Pokémon so he takes them away. As you take your first steps outside the house a man notices you and introduces himself as Dust, a trainer and researcher of Elarosian Mythology: "Is your name Lina/Ray? I saw the news. May I ask you a few questions?". You agree to respond. "See, lately a lot of reports have been coming about the appeareance of a very large unidentified Pokémon around various regions, and apparently the incident on the criuse liner was provoked by him. Did you saw that Pokémon when you were on board?". You tell him what happened on the cruise liner. "Oh, excelent! Could you describe that Pokémon please?". "Hmm, I see, it's just how I thought, maybe his appeareance it's the reason of the decaying of life here in Elarosa... Huh? Nevermind, I shouldn't tell you details about that. But hey, maybe you could help me with my research, yes?". You accept. "Take this, it's a Pokémon Bracer, or PokéBracer for short, it has the Live Caster app, better known as the Xtransceiver function. It's an old prototype version but it should suffice for my askings. Whenever you see something similar occurs, please, give me a call with it. Anyway, you're new in Elarosa which means you'd love to see what Pokémon are found here. My aid it's in my lab here in Sorel City, she always helps starting trainers so you could go there and borrow a Pokémon. If you want to go just tell her I sent you there, she'll inmediately know what to do. Now, I should be going, I have a meeting in Stradia City's museum, please have a nice day."

As the man leaves you're free to go. But wait! What was that all about!? What's going on!? I mean, you don't see a huge Pokémon creating storms by it's way everyday, and he said it was appearing everywhere! Oh! and what was he saying about the "Decaying of life"!?... Could it be related to that strange Pokémon? Depends on you to find out.

Your story is yours and yours alone. From now on, your decisions will define the path your journey will take. Please weave a wonderful tale!

Features

A whole new region to explore!

New Starters!

Almost 50 new Pokémon! (Fakes)

An infinity of puzzles and riddles to solve!

New Moves!

A deeper, emotional and more mature story with a bunch of plot-twists involving familiar faces!

The posibility of obtaining every single pokémon in one way or another including the Gen VI new starters, Sylveon, Xerneas and Yveltal! (By the time this project is finished, there'll be enough info on them to make it happen)

Legendary Pokémon will have event moves and atributes!

You'll have to visit other regions in order to complete the story! (just visiting some places, not vast exploring.)

There'll be Toughened up trainers with higher level Pokémon!

Time Travel! (Yes, you read that right, Time Travel!)

The PokéBracer, a new device for trainers with a lot of useful apps!

A custom egg for every Pokémon!

And much more!

Screenshots

Characters

Lina LightVolkner's 17 years old Daughter and the main character of the story (Male is the secondary one in this case). She's very shy but can be brave if needed. Raised by Volkner and his Raichu due to the absence of her mother, she grew up very lonely but developed a big fragile heart, open to help everyone in need. She started his Pokémon Journey by the age of 16 and in just one year became not only the Champion of Sinnoh, but also one of the winners at the Battle Frontier. Deceived by how empty the prize felt, she just wanted to get home with her father and live a normal life. She likes goth fashion and it's a big fan of Shauntal, her favourite novel writer.

Ray LightVolkner's 17 years old son and the alternate protagonist to the story. After his mother passed away giving birth, he was raised by Volkner and his Raichu, the later which became his favourite Pokémon and helped him all the way on his journey. Because of the way he felt being a child without a mother, his heart closed up and he grew as a kid with pain and remorse inside, despite being a happy guy with other people. Blind by his deep feelings, he battles to channelise the guilt of killing his mother. He always dreamed of beating Tower Tycoon Palmer. He achieved his dream, and now he thinks there's nothing more left in life for him.

Volkner LightSunyshore City's old gym leader. He's a single parent now, his wife died giving birth of his daughter so he and his Raichu worked together to raise her, and now with so little time he left someone else in charge of the gym. Heart broken, the only thing that keeps him wanting to live is you, making him an overprotector father.

Dust CedarA researcher from Elarosa, born in Sorel City. He is looking for the Pokémon who's appearing everywhere and making storms on it's way. By his research, he assumes this Pokémon could be "Esklerios" a mythological entity of the Old Elarosa who came from the sky every time the monarchy changed it's leader, to protect the region from unlegitimate kings, and leading the incarnated hero of the legend to his throne. He's quite hoped and energetic, but middle age it's striking him hard, and that has made his research go slower.

Stephania ???A cute 11-15 years old girl Lina meets on the start of the journey on Elarosa. She's quite mysterious but friendly, and helps Lina whenever she sees her. Strangely, she doesn't catch Pokémon, they come to aid her when she needs them instead. Always on a rush, she never stays too long for you two have a break.

Reck SkylarA guy you met on the early days of your journey on Elarosa. He's very cold and apathic. You don't know too much about him, but he already sees you as a rival. His father it's the CEO of Skylar Corp, the biggest organization in Elarosa. He hated his life as a rich person, so he ran away from his home and started a journey of his own with a Pokémon he stealed form one of the labs at the main building of the corporation. Blessed with a great mind thanks to it's father, he almost always know what to do, and by that reason he rejects help from other people saying he is fully capable of doing everything he wants, and doesn't need the help of insignificant persons.

Noel SkylarReck's father, CEO of Skylar Corp. When he was young he discovered the Inemium, an element that is capable of supplying a great amount of energy to almost every structure in Elarosa. World famous, he's always being praised by his research and studies. He dissaproves the idea of his son going in a journey around the region, and instead maked him a super-dotated student, passing him all his knowledge and showing him the work he made in his lab. Although he doesn't want his son to pursue his own dreams, he's a caring father and only wants what's better for his child, but his actions told Reck the other way, and now Reck thinks his father's not proud of him.

Additional Information:

The Elarosa Region

Elarosa it's actually based on the Chūgoku and Shikoku Regions of Japan. Kansai, and Chūbu would be what we know as Johto, Kantō region would be, well, Kanto, and Kyūshū region would be Hoenn. Elarosa it's between Johto and Hoenn, in fact, Cinnabar Town forms part of Elarosa's south island. This map shows how Elarosa it's a really exotic region full of places of interest (Includes ice caves, a desert, two forests, two lakes, abandoned ruins, a river in the middle of a valley, a tunnel, a ghost ship, a haunted town, a little volcano island, and more), because of this, the region it's very touristical and many trainers from all around the world visit these places (which justifies why trainers are so tough). The outmost islands are, from left to right, up to down, Elarosa's Pokémon League, An island city with a peak and some cliffs, and the Frontier Islands featuring a Battle Island (a normal Battle Frontier Park) with a Resort Hotel, a Dungeon Island (It's meant to have mazes and be like Sinnoh's Survival Area) with a little underground town, and a Challenge Island (A city where you can put your mind to test, just a lot of puzzles and minigames including "Escaping the Room", "A Listening like Simon Says" and others) with a Casino. Please note, this map is just conceptual art, it's not a screenshot.

The PokéBracer It's a new device designed specially for trainers. With a bracer shape, it's comfortable to use or even sleep with it. It works with holograms and includes a bunch of useful functions and updatable apps that can help the player throughout his adventure. This is a list of almost every function: (You'll have to earn many of them playing the game)

The Live Caster app (Formerly known as Xtransceiver)

The Pokédex app (Of course, with a new interface and more info on every Pokémon.)

The Itemfinder app

The ItemStorage app (Bag. It materializes items similar to the way a Pokéball works with Pokémon.)

The Journal app (To save the game)

The Settings app (Just settings, there's nothing more to it).

The Town Map app

The Calculator app

The Party management app (Like the "Pokémon" menu section. You can also check the IV's and EV's of your Pokémon with it.)

The Camera app (It's an alternative way of taking screenshots, but these ones are saved and you can see the pictures in-game.)

And many others!

The Pokémon Bracer is a total replacement of the Menu, and it's interface would be close to an iPhone/Android App display with the Date and hour in the upper part of the screen.

Inhemium/Inemium Newly discovered element that works as a power source for many of the structures and devices in Elarosa, including the PokéBracer.

Elarosa's Sky Guardian Legend It is said that once every 1000 years, the guardian of Elarosa descends from the sky and guides the Legitimate King of Elarosa to his throne, protecting him from the massive attacks of evil Pokémon.

The Twin Suns Ritual This ceremony it's made to keep the evil away from Elarosa. It consists of a dance performance and the birth of a Quetic at the sun rise. People usually party the whole day. This it's done to honor the descending of the guardian of the legend.

Quetic It's a Psychic/Flying Pokémon that looks like a Quetzal bird. It uses his psychic energy to heal people.

Fakes

Esklerios: Dragon/Dark. Legendary Pokémon.

Vardenly: Electric/Grass. Legendary Pokémon.

Team

Silversnk - Spriter, Tiler, Mapper and Lead Designer
Free Spot - Secondary Spriter
Free Spot - Lead Scripter
Free Spot - Scripter (This one is not strictly needed but will be really helpful)
Free Spot - Secondary Mapper (This is not necessary for the moment)
Free Spot - Dialogue Supervisor (I can't do the whole dialogues of the game, and it's useful to have someone to double check)
Free Spot - Sound Engineer and/or Composer (This is not necessary for the moment)

If you want to join, just PM me with the role you'd like to fill and proof that you can handle the work. Additional information like timezone, free days would be useful. Don't worry about me being too exigent because I'm not, this game is intented to be developed slowly.

Questions & Answers

I'll be updating this as you comment!

Thanks for reading, I'm open to suggestions and every kind of support. By the way, English is not my main language, that's why I'm asking for a Dialogue supervisor so please, if I make any mistakes let me know.

This is a really good idea. The PokeBracer seems like a really innovative device. I like how you replaced the menu with it. The story seems great and the sprites are really good. Looking forward to the making of this!

Like the idea, except that you totally trolled the whole "experienced" trainer thing by having Volkner take away your whole Pokemon. Would be more realistic if you were able to keep at least one of them.

This is a really good idea. The PokeBracer seems like a really innovative device. I like how you replaced the menu with it. The story seems great and the sprites are really good. Looking forward to the making of this!

Thanks! I've been working a lot with the main idea and concepts of the game so I'm glad you like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dradier234

I have to say, this thread is really organized, I love the fakemon!

Thanks a lot! I was afraid people didn't liked the sprites.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaosLord

Like the idea, except that you totally trolled the whole "experienced" trainer thing by having Volkner take away your whole Pokemon. Would be more realistic if you were able to keep at least one of them.

That was the part I was trying to change, I don't really want you to keep one of those Pokémon because it would make the game lose it's excitement, and making other Pokémon catch up with the level of your main would be a pain (You just won at the Battle Frontier, so minimum Lv:50). As for the team you had before your Pokémon were taken away, Volkner's Raichu it's the main Pokémon. It wouldn't be exciting to have a level 50 fully evolved one.

Anyway, the way you lose your Pokémon it's a provisional idea for now, I've been struggling a lot to came up with something good but everything I think of are clichés, so if anyone gets a better idea I would definitely appreciate it and use it with the proper permission

I understand that, it just didn't make sense when you said "Elarosa is famous for being a retire place for most trainers, here you'll find the toughest and more experienced trainers in this side of the world". The underlined is what gives the whole Lv.5 starter Pokemon thing off.

I understand that, it just didn't make sense when you said "Elarosa is famous for being a retire place for most trainers, here you'll find the toughest and more experienced trainers in this side of the world". The underlined is what gives the whole Lv.5 starter Pokemon thing off.

Yeah, you're right, I think I was too inspired when I wrote that (?), I'll change it then for "Elarosa is famous for being a touristical place, also a lot of trainers from all around the world come here to prove their skills in front of Elarosa Pokémon League."

-Quetic's Sprite
-Main tileset (It would really help if you told me what kind of style you like, so I could made them that way)
-Studying a little ruby and getting used to Essentials
-Preparing RMXP for the first map
-Designing the Logo
-Composing the main theme (This will take a while because I'm using is Ableton Live 7 and my guitar.)

For the next update I'll start using RMXP and taking some screenshots so you don't get bored with all these minimal updates

Hey there! Sorry for taking so long, I've been really busy with the university.
I have to say I'm almost done with the prologue. I just need tiles for the cruise liner (the board part, like s.s. anne to be precise)

4 screenshots of the fight area:

Doors for the Center and Mart need to be fixed. Also, I'd like to know if you like the graphical style.

First attempt at Quetic's sprite: (It's a WIP and probably the final result it's gonna look totally different but this is the idea/design)

And new ideas:

The Egg Project! I liked the idea of custom eggs so I plan on doing them for all Pokémon, maybe I should post it on Pixel Projects so anyone can colaborate. Can you guess which Pokémon are inside?

A sidequest/sideplot called Island Quest. As the name suggest, you'll be visiting several islands in the world of Pokémon, but for now I'll name the ones already known (New Island, Shamouti Island, Pinkan Island, Navel Island, Sunburst Island, Ascorbia Island, Faraway Island and Pokémon Island -The one in Snap-)

I think I'm being too ambitious here, and I probably use the idea for another game, but just wanted to share it.

Anyway, that's all I have for now, I hope you like it and please leave a comment

Hey there! Sorry for taking so long, I've been really busy with the university.
I have to say I'm almost done with the prologue. I just need tiles for the cruise liner (the board part, like s.s. anne to be precise)

4 screenshots of the fight area:

Anyway, that's all I have for now, I hope you like it and please leave a comment

For the girl and the boy being 17 they look really small, don't you think?
I mean the OW's the gilrs is almost like the half of that youngster boy, if she's 17 then she should at least be as big as him.

Other then that I really like these screenshots, actually turned alot better out then I was expecting.

Only sugguestion would be that you maybe add your own palette to the trees so they would'nt look to much B/W palette.
Also giving this game yoru won touch.

For the girl and the boy being 17 they look really small, don't you think?
I mean the OW's the gilrs is almost like the half of that youngster boy, if she's 17 then she should at least be as big as him.

Other then that I really like these screenshots, actually turned alot better out then I was expecting.

Only sugguestion would be that you maybe add your own palette to the trees so they would'nt look to much B/W palette.
Also giving this game yoru won touch.

That's just a regular citizen (?) and not a Youngster. The Youngster's OW it's the same size as the hero. (I use a template, same size as Hilda/Hilbert)

I changed some lines in the plot, and also added two more characters and extra info on the rest.

Next update will take a while, I'm working more in graphics than the actual game to save me a lot of time later when mapping and creating events. (Also, I'm in finals)

This is what I'm working with at the moment:

-Starters and other Pokémon
-Cruise Liner and Sorel City
-Story of course
-Overworlds, Tiles and Interfaces (After thinking a lot, I decided DPPt tiles are the ones I'll be using, they're easier to combine with other styles and still look good.)

Any support it's greatly appreciated, specially moral support because I'm a lazy, major procrastinator and I don't want this to die.

There, the 3 edits so you can compare easily. I saturated the last one a little bit, I really liked it that way, it reminds me of Minish Cap somehow. Hope that's better please tell me if you have any other suggestions

Yep, the last one is perfect! Not too dark, not too bright, and the contrast between the buildings and environmental tiles is enough to separate them as entities (instead of just all squished in together blandly). It really adds depth.

Hello there, things here have calmed down a little.
I wanted to say: developing is still being delayed, I'm revising some ideas about the game. There's a new concept I want to add to the game, this is copypasted from my notepad:

Quote:

Elarosa is divided in communities. (Not cities or towns. Towns will allow you to challenge their leader easily because they'll be starting/small communities without too much respect.)

Each community has trainers that battle for respect.

Community Leaders (Gym Leaders) work as majors in each community, and to challenge them you must earn enough respect in that community by defeating trainers and helping people with errands.

Each community has a representative Pokémon, instead of using a specific type.

They form alliances and fight other communities to recruit members and gamble over possesions. You'll be able to choose a community to be in, and depending on the one you choose, other communities will favor you or reject you.

Elarosa's Pokémon League would be a Community Tournament, where they fight for respect and a huge money prize for manutention.

Now, I'm clueless on how to add this to the game, because I know very little about scripts, and I'm pretty sure that using variables it's not the most efficient way to do it.
What would be awesome?: The possibility of funding your own community and deciding a place to settle, which would supply of some resources.

As I said before, I have no clue on how to add this as a feature, but I think it's a really cool idea and I shouldn't drop it off, so If anyone wants to help just tell me.

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